We often associate the activity and work of the Holy Spirit with the New Testament church era, and this makes sense – the scope of the work of the Spirit was certainly a bit different in the Old Testament. Grudem’s Systematic Theology states that the work of the Holy Spirit is to “manifest the active presence of God in the world, and especially in the church” (Grudem, 1994, Ch. 30). In the Old Testament, God was manifest in many unique ways outside of specific mention of the Holy Spirit. These are the glorious displays of his presence which would have been jaw-dropping to see, the “theophanies”, or physical ways in which God and his glory was present: a hip-popping wrestler, a burning bush, an angel or commander, a quiet voice, the fourth man in the fire in Babylon, heavenly fire leading his people or filling his temple. All of this most crucially leading to him embodied as a craftsman from Nazareth.
Today, in the church age, the primary way that God is manifest is through the Holy Spirit, poured out on all people (Joel 2, Acts 2). The breadth of the Holy Spirit’s work in and through people undoubtedly changed at Pentecost. But his objective has not. What we sometimes miss as we are caught up in “What exactly can the Spirit help us do?” and “Can some people have more of the Spirit than others?” is that the Spirit is working to bring about evidence of God’s presence, not evidence of our greatness. As Spirit-filled believers, we would do well to look to the Old Testament to see whom God filled with his Spirit, situations where his Spirit is mentioned, and for what purposes. He is working those purposes through us even still.
The Spirit works for the purpose of displaying beauty worthy of the Creator:
“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Exodus 31:2-5
The Spirit works within people for the leading of his people (as only he can):
I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you [Moses] and put it on them [Israel’s leaders]. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone. Numbers 11:17
The Lord replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. Numbers 27:18 (CSB)
The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 1 Samuel 10:6-7 [Saul anointed]
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah. Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul,… 1 Samuel 16:13-14a [David anointed]
The Spirit’s presence was a protection in difficult times (and whose absence was a crisis):
(concerning Israel and the exodus)
Yet they rebelled
and grieved his Holy Spirit.
So he turned and became their enemy
and he himself fought against them.Then his people recalled the days of old,
the days of Moses and his people—
where is he who brought them through the sea,
with the shepherd of his flock?
Where is he who set
his Holy Spirit among them,who sent his glorious arm of power
to be at Moses’ right hand,
who divided the waters before them,
to gain for himself everlasting renown,who led them through the depths? Isaiah 63:10-13
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:11
The Spirit provides guidance (both in wisdom and physically):
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. Ezekiel 37:1
The Spirit reveals the word of God:
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse Numbers 24:2-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, Isaiah 61:1
They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Zechariah 7:12
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21
May we read these words and find boldness that he who worked these things for Israel has now been poured into us, for the flourishing of his church and the manifestation of the presence of God in this world (Joel 2:28).